Seven ‘Kardashian-style’ scandals that plagued Christian Horner’s Red Bull…‘cheat’ claims to star raising rival’s child

10 months ago 67

IN the wake of the bombshell allegations against F1 chief Christian Horner, the Sun lists other scandals that have plagued the Red Bull team in the past years.

The team’s boss, 50, was hit by claims of “inappropriate behaviour” in the latest F1 controversy but it is not the first stain on the Red Bull team’s history.

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez have been involved in a public feud[/caption]

Christian Horner has been accused of “inappropriate behaviour”[/caption]

Red Bull has been hit by chaos such as when Ricciardo crashed with Verstappen in 2018[/caption]

Horner is due to be probed by a lawyer today after news broke of the allegations made against him by a female staffer.

The hearing was initially meant to be held at the team headquarters in Milton Keynes, Bucks but it was moved to a different location last minute.

The claims sent shockwaves across the F1 World but it’s not the first time Red Bull was involved in a scandal.

From the ongoing feud between Verstappen and Perez which was described as a “bit like the Kardashian show” by rival Hamilton to Preze’s cheating allegations, the F1 team has seen some challenging times.

‘A BIT LIKE A KARDASHIAN SHOW’

The Red Bull team was plagued by a big scandal in 2022 – the controversial Brazilian Grand Prix.

A public feud between Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez was sparked when the Dutchman defied the team’s orders and did not let his teammate pass him at Sao Paulo – even though he had already secured the season’s title.

As a result, Perez, who was competing with Ferrari‘s Charles Leclerc for second place, lost two World Cup points.

Speaking to Channel 4 about the drama at the time, Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton described it as a “Kardashian show”.

He joked: “I mean, it feels like a bit of a Kardashian show happening here.

“It’s pretty hilarious, some of the stuff that I’ve heard over the past few days has been so entertaining.

“I’m sure it’ll all be on Netflix, it’s going to be great.”

The Milton Keynes-based team had some time of uncertainty during the final weeks of the season of the same year.

It handed a whopping £5,5 million fine for breaking F1’s cost-cap rule.

An FIA statement said that Red Bull triggered a “minor” breach, going over the £114million limit.

At the time Horner described the penalties as “enormous”.

He said: “I hear people say it’s not a severe penalty, but 10 per cent less wind tunnel time and other aerodynamic tools is a draconian penalty

“That can cost up to half a second a lap. It will have an effect on our ability to perform on track next year.”

CRYPTIC STATEMENT

When Verstappen was asked to allow his teammate to pass him according to a previous agreement with the team, he refused and said: “I told you already last summer.

“You guys don’t ask that again to me, ok? Are we clear about that? I gave my reasons and I stand by it.”

His comment sparked speculation that he had been holding a grudge against Perez since another incident in Monaco earlier in the season.

Following the row between the two drivers, team chief Horner stated the feud was caused by a team mistake.

” I think that was a mistake as a team that we didn’t discuss it and come up with a very clear plan,” he said.

“Obviously, it was unfortunate what happened, but it was quickly discussed, openly and transparently.

“And both drivers were very clear, open, and honest with each other, and from that as a team we move on and the dynamic between the drivers is absolutely fine.”

‘CHEATING ON WIFE’

Following the eventful Sao Paolo race, Mexican driver Perez fumed: “It shows who he really is.

“I have nothing to say, really. After all I’ve done for him, it’s disappointing. I have no idea. I’m really surprised.”

But his comments did not sit well with Verstappen’s mum Sophie Kumpen who hit back and accused him of cheating on his wife, Carola Martinez.

I gave my reasons and I stand by it

Max Verstappen

In a since-deleted Instagram post, she wrote: “And then in the evening cheating on his wife.”

Her comment appears to refer to a video posted online in June showing Perez dancing with mystery women in Monte Carlo.

Perez celebrated his success by partying on a yacht with footage showing him up close and personal with a brunette before wrapping his arms around a blonde woman’s waist.

Perez issued a public apology statement afterwards, saying: “I have seen the videos that have been circulating about me and I take responsibility for it.

Sergio Perez issues a public apology to his wife he was seen dancing with a woman during a party[/caption]

Perez was seen embracing a brunette during the yacht party[/caption]

“It was a bad party that I didn’t know how to control at the height of the person that I am, but it was just that, a very bad party.

“People close to me know my values and the type of person that I am. For those who ask me, we are more united than ever, me and my wife.

“And for those who just want to hurt us, I wish you the best. Thanks for your love and I apologise to all the people who love me because those videos don’t represent me at all.

“We will not talk about this topic anymore, which only makes us forget the great moment we are living as a family. Thank you.”

VERSTAPPEN DATING RIVAL’S EX

Verstappen revealed he has a good relationship with the daughter of his girlfriend Kelly Piquet.

The Brazilian model, daughter of fiery F1 legend Nelson Piquet, was dating driver Daniil Kvyat from 2017 to 2019 and had daughter Penelope before their split.

The Dutchaman replaced Kvyat at Red Bull in 2016 an two years later he started dating Piquet.

In a rare chat about his personal life, he told TIME magazine: “I’m not the father, that’s not the aim.

“It’s always very important that she has a good relationship with her own father, which she has.

“But I see her every day when I’m at home. We get on very well. She’s very cute.”

THE DRAMATIC 2021 ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX

In 2021, Red Bull was involved in yet another controversy – this time involving Brit driver Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton was pipped to the championship by Max Verstappen on the final lap of the last race when race director Michael Masi appeared to incorrectly allow Verstappen the chance to overtake Hamilton.

The incident left the Mercedes team furious accusing race bosses of bending the rules.

But after a four-and-a-half hour battle to have the decision overturned it was finally rejected and Verstappen remained World Champion.

According to a report by the FIA the incident was down to “human error” but the results were “valid”.

‘XENOPHOBIC COMMENTS’

Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko was hit with a written warning by the FIA for his comments made towards Sergio Perez.

The outspoken Austrian was quoted saying Perez, who is from Mexico, “is South American and he is just not as completely focused in his head as Max [Verstappen] is or as Sebastian [Vettel]”.

Despite the 80-year-old Austrian offering an apology for his “offensive” words against Checo, the remarks caused a backlash on social media with calls to remove Marko from his duties.

The FIA said that Marko received a “written warning and was reminded of his responsibilities as a public figure in motorsport in line with the FIA code of ethics.”

The year before Red Bull sacked junior driver Juri Vips after he used a racial slur on a live stream.

The 21-year-old Estonian is believed to have used the N-word while playing Call of Duty online with team-mate Liam Lawson.

‘UNKIND’

A few years earlier, Marko was involved in a public fall-out with Mark Webber after his comments regarding the Australian’s performance in an interview.

The remarks were taken as harsh criticism by Webber but in 2018, Marko never intended to offend him.

He told F1: “With Mark it was a misinterpretation. I don’t set out to be unkind.

“I was asked why Vettel is champion and why Mark isn’t,” he recalled. “So I tried to explain the difference and there were just some facts.

“I say what I believe. And I say it to make something better, to help people to come up with their own solutions.”

He added: “All these circumstances were what I tried to express, and the magazine thought that I was against Mark, which is not true,” Marko said. “[Drivers] get the same treatment here with us.

“I didn’t think it should be taken to criticise Mark.

“But I said if he was able to keep his performance over the whole season, then he would have been the champion.

“Mark was already a driver with a good reputation,” he noted. “It was always, ‘If he is in the right car, he will be a winner.’ And then came the right car, but unfortunately along came Vettel as well.

“Psychologically it must [have been] very, very hard for Mark.”